Saturday, 18 June 2016

After 60 years of inactivity: The Bristol Island volcano, spews ash gas and steam into the South Georgia sky after heavy quake activity

Photo web.kalid.com.
After 60 years of inactivity, the Bristol Island volcano, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, the old colossus has awaken...
A new volcanic eruption is occurring at the remote island, recent satellite imagery reveals.
Since late April, a thermal hot spot could be detected originating the volcano's summit, and clear-weather views showed a significant plume of gas and steam, possibly containing volcanic ash, drifting from the volcano.
The volcano's last known activity was in 1956.
However, without closer observation is difficult to know what type of activity is going on.
Two earthquakes of magnitudes around 5.6 and 4.7 were detected to have occurred near the island on 24 and 25 April; they are likely in relation with the new activity.